Plus tu écoutes ce dialogue, plus tu parles couramment.

Questions & Answers about Plus tu écoutes ce dialogue, plus tu parles couramment.

Why isn't there a translation for "the" in "plus tu écoutes"?
In French, the "the more... the more..." structure translates simply to plus... plus.... You do not use the definite article le here. Adding le is a common trap for English speakers, but in French, le plus is reserved for superlatives (meaning "the most").
Why doesn't the French sentence say "plus couramment tu parles" to match the English word order?
When using plus... plus..., the French word order remains exactly the same as a normal sentence. You would normally say tu parles couramment (you speak fluently), so you simply put plus at the front. You don't drag the adverb forward next to plus like we do in English.
How is the adverb couramment formed?
It is formed from the adjective courant (fluent or current). For adjectives ending in -ant, French drops the -ant and adds the ending -amment to make it an adverb. Notice it has a double m, but the first part is pronounced like "ah" rather than "am".
Do I pronounce the "s" at the end of écoutes and parles?
No, the -s at the end of regular -er verbs in the tu form is always silent. You pronounce écoutes and parles exactly the same way you would pronounce the je or il/elle forms of these verbs.

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